Chapter 695: Breaking Shackles (1/2)
Getting stuck with such a deadly mission was a shock, but it wasn’t like Zac hadn’t thought of heading over to the Twilight Chasm before. After all, it was the endpoint of the Twilight Ocean, the spot where the greatest treasures could be found.
The Twilight Ocean was essentially an enormous planet where you started on a continent on one pole, while the Twilight Chasm was on the other end. The description wasn’t exactly true though, as the realm itself was somehow layered in ways that Zac couldn’t understand. It was possible to enter a stream that shot through the ocean, and suddenly find yourself on what should be the opposite side of the Mystic Realm, saving months of travel time.
Finding the Twilight Chasm was easy, but only the best of the best could survive in that place. The Twilight Energy alone was enough to instantly corrode the souls of 99% of all participants, but that was just the start. There would also be extremely powerful Peak E-grade beasts patrolling the waters, and you also had to contend with all the peak power trial takers. Zac had only planned on going if he felt confident about his survival.
But now he was essentially given what could be considered a suicide mission, and Zac struggled to understand why Catheya’s master would give him a task like this. His mother’s array was supposed to hide any details of his cultivation inside his body, making him appear completely bland through some unknown means. Yet Catheya’s master seemed to believe him able to reach the very depths of the Mystic Realm, something that most likely was impossible even for his own disciple.
Zac doubted that a peak C-grade Monarch would be so roundabout if he simply wanted Zac dead. Perhaps he believed that Zac would be able to resist the ambient energy long enough to at least reach the Chasm, completing the task before he succumbed. Or perhaps he had found something indicating an ability to exceed expectations inside the Twilight Ocean when scanning Zac previously. Had his desperate escape from the Hegemon been so impressive he felt that Zac had what it took to reach the end? It was impossible to tell.
It was also suspicious that he didn’t want his disciple to know what was going on. Was it just that he didn’t want his disciple heading for the dangerous Twilight Chasm, or was there more at play beneath the surface? Zac felt it was all related to the secondary mission Catheya mentioned, but he still had absolutely no idea what that entailed.
Ultimately, he didn’t have much choice but to follow through. The blue mark on his hand had already sunk into his body, and Zac couldn’t even sense it any longer. He tried activating [Spiritual Anchor], but there were no signs of its whereabouts at all. An E-grade skill was simply too low-graded to expose a Peak C-grade mark.
The good news was that he didn’t immediately need to set out to the Chasm, even though it felt pretty bad walking around with that ominous thing in his Spatial Ring. He could spend a year or two working on his cultivation inside the trial and only then set out toward the depths. He was already at the precipice of evolving his Fragment of the Axe, and when adding the Life-Death Pearls he was slated for a huge powerup.
The enforcement squad eventually reached the platform, and they actually led Zac all the way to his courtyard just to be safe.
“We have been given a new order,” the Revenant said. “Two captains will be stationed outside your courtyard, and they will accompany young master up until the trial. Don’t worry, we will not impede on your daily life.”
“Thank you,” Zac nodded, and the guard captain sat down a hundred meters away from the gate, closing his eyes in meditation.
The VIP-Treatment might be because of Catheya's master, or it might just be protocol. The Council probably didn't want Monarchs running rampant in the harbor, and keeping the young elites out of trouble was a good way to help keep the peace. In either case, it would be a relief to have two Hegemons following as a deterrent. Otherwise, he’d be hard-pressed to go out again.
Unfortunately, it looked like the leisurely days of traveling around on Nala’s dingy vessel were over. He would have to let her go, as to not get her involved in his mess. He and Vilari were only temporary guests, but Nala would have to make do in this place even after he left.
“I don’t want to be disturbed for the rest of the week,” Zac said as he turned to an attendant that stood waiting by the gate to his courtyard.
“Certainly, young master,” the early E-grade Revenant quickly nodded. “If you have the need for any of our services feel free to contact us through the communication array installed by the gate.”
“One thing,” Zac said after some thought. “Do you have any allies among the Dreamers, someone reliable who can complete a few errands on the Life-attuned islands?”
“That’s…” the attendant said as he glanced at the guards who still hadn't left the area. “Security is quite strict around this time…”
“Oh, nothing like that,” Zac snorted. “I just need someone to make some purchases for me, but I don’t want to visit those life-attuned places myself. It has to be someone who has access to premier establishments.”
“I will ask my manager,” the assistant nodded, but his face indicated that this shouldn’t be a hard request to field.
“Good, have the person visit me in one week,” Zac said and the Revenant quickly bowed as he closed the gates to his courtyard.
Zac activated a series of isolation arrays the moment he closed the doors. The arrays were clearly of high quality as he had never sensed a ripple of energy from his surroundings. He couldn’t sense the Hegemon or his soldiers waiting outside either. They were definitely enough to shield his activities as well, but he also erected a private array for his own peace of mind.
Of course, if someone like Catheya’s master wanted to spy on him, there was probably not much he could do about it. Thankfully, he wasn’t planning on doing anything he desperately needed to hide over the following days.
“What happened?” Vilari asked with worry when she saw Zac’s harried form.
He had some shallow wounds as his robes were tattered in various places, though the tears were fast mending. He had long since upgraded the Tool Spirit robes he bought from Yrial, and with the help of the Gemlings back home he had managed to infuse a burgeoning intelligence in the Tool Spirit. It was still a far cry from Verun, but it was a step in the right direction.
He had also unlocked the third skill of the robes, which was a transformation ability. It had allowed him to turn the previously white robe into a black-and-silver cut that suited his Draugr persona far better. Its defensive properties were worse than his own body and his skills though, but Zac knew that Yrial used these robes more for the aesthetic than its properties. You'd need a peak-quality defensive Spirit Tool for its skills to be of use to someone like Zac.
That changed at D-grade though. Reaching D-grade meant gaining the ability to power your equipment with the vast energy stored in your Cultivator's Core. Only then could even normal Defensive Equipment produce effects strong enough to match that of proper skills. That was also another reason why it was so hard to kill Hegemons; even the poorest of the bunch had scrounged up for at least one or two D-grade defensive items that could block powerful strikes.
“A few items appeared that I really needed at the auction,” Zac sighed as he waved away Vilari's ministrations. “I drew too much attention and was attacked on the way home.”
“Should we return home?” Vilari asked.
“I can’t,” Zac slowly sighed. “Catheya’s master personally intervened, but he forced me into completing a mission inside the Twilight Ocean. I’ll die if I go back to Earth now.”